Monthly Archives: September 2020

• Hot water with dish soap: Add a few tablespoons of liquid dish soap to boiling water and pour it slowly down the drain. This mixture is good for grease clogs. It could require several tries.
• Wire clothes hanger: A straightened clothes hanger with the hook still attached can be used to dig out hair or food matter. Once the material is cleared out, pour hot water down the drain.
• A mixture of salt, Borax, and vinegar: Pour this mixture down the drain with boiling water. Let it sit for about an hour before rinsing with hot water. 
• Baking soda and salt: A half-cup each works in a similar manner as baking soda and vinegar.
• Plunger: Plungers work well especially kitchen sink clogs.

Whenever you have a major clogged drain and need help with drain cleaning in Indianapolis, IN, you can always count on the team at Grateful Plumber. Give us a call at 317-677-4918.

What to pour down a drain to unclog it?

From mixtures of baking soda and vinegar to hot water with dish soap, there are various ways to unclog drains. Most are effective but might take several tries, and a lot of hot water, to get them to work. Many other household items are also known to unclog drains. Will Coke unclog drains? Coke or any other cola can be used for drain cleaning. You can pour a 2-liter bottle of cola down the drain, let it sit for about an hour, and then rinse with hot water. Colas are actually fairly caustic, but not as much as other chemical drain cleaners, and are less likely to harm your pipes. When cleaning a drain with cola, make sure to rinse carefully so all the sugar and syrups are removed.

What is best for cleaning drains?

While frequent use of off-the-shelf drain cleaners isn’t recommended, they are valuable when you need to remove a clog quickly. Some commercial drain cleaners, however, are more effective than others, depending on the job you need them for. There are three main types of drain cleaners—enzymatic, caustic, and acidic—and each has different uses. Enzymatic cleaners produce bacteria that feed on clogs and are useful for materials like hair or paper, though not as effective against grease or soap scum. They are, however, less likely to harm pipes. Caustic cleaners are best for removing food and grease from tubs and showers—often within 30 minutes—but aren’t recommended for toilets. They are also safer for newer plastic, steel, or copper pipes. Acidic cleaners are best for heavy clogs of any type, including paper-based materials, so they could be used to unclog toilets. They are generally safe to use on newer plastic or metal pipes and are effective within about 15 minutes. When you work with these types of drain cleaners, you’ll want to wear protective clothing, safety goggles, and a respirator. 

What chemicals do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Plumbing professionals tend to avoid using chemical drain cleaners because of the potential harm they can do to pipes. Most plumbers would recommend plunging first to try to clear the clog or even using some natural remedies like baking soda and vinegar. Usually, when you call out a plumber for drain cleaning, they’ll snake out the drain using a drain snake or auger. This tool is highly effective and usually works to clear out most clogs. You can buy and use augers yourself, but you have to be careful with them and use them correctly to avoid damaging your pipes.

What is hydrojet drain cleaning?

Another tool plumbers use for drain cleaning is hydrojetting, in which high-pressure jets of water are sprayed through the pipe to clear the clog. Hydrojetting is often used when clogs are deep inside your lines and is very effective in sewer lines where tree roots have intruded to cause clogs.

Drain cleaning and camera

When clogs are deep in your pipes, plumbers sometimes send specially made cameras down the line to locate the blockage. Once located, this is often when hydrojetting is relied on to get the clog cleared.